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Books by and about 2024 presidential candidates |
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Hillbilly Elegy,
by JD Vance (2017) |
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015) |
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018) |
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016) |
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017) |
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden) |
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019) |
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
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Book Reviews |
(from Amazon.com) |
(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)
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| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
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Abortion
Heidi Wellman: Oppose abortion as an unrestricted right.
Brian Herr: Supports abortion rights.
Bruce Skarin: Reduce abortions without infringing women's rights to decide.
Elizabeth Warren: No Supreme Court nominees who oppose legal abortion.
Ed Markey: Champion of woman's ability to make her own decisions.
Ed Markey: Massachusetts should lead in protecting right to choose.
Geoff Diehl: Conscientious taxpayer objection to abortion.
Scott Brown: I'm pro-choice but anti-Elena Kagan.
Scott Brown: Birth control ok, but don't force churches to provide it.
Scott Brown: I'm a moderate pro-choice Republican & always have been.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Personal decision that involves two lives.
John Deaton: Out-of-control judges should not be deciding these things.
Elizabeth Warren: We need access to abortion, to contraception, to IVF.
Elizabeth Warren: Democrats are for IVF access; Republicans oppose it.
John Deaton: Massachusetts got this right: unrestricted until viability.
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Budget & Economy
Heidi Wellman: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.
Beth Lindstrom: Helped reduce needless business regulations to increase jobs.
Bruce Skarin: Top priority: national debt; fiscal conservative.
Elizabeth Warren: Balanced approach to deficit reduction.
Kevin O`Connor: $2000 monthly payments during pandemic grossly irresponsible.
Scott Brown: Stop dividing Americans into haves and have-nots.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Budgetary transparency will lead to infrastructure spending.
Ed Markey: Pay for $2000 stimulus checks by repealing Trump tax cuts.
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Civil Rights
Heidi Wellman: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.
Beth Lindstrom: Supports state law legalizing same sex marriage.
Brian Herr: Supports gay marriage as an issue of equal rights.
Bruce Skarin: I am not just a supporter, but an advocate for gay rights.
Elizabeth Warren: We need a reliable vote for equal pay for equal work.
Geoff Diehl: Elizabeth Warren wrongfully claimed a minority appointment.
Joe Kennedy III: Kennedy leads task force for transgender equality.
Kevin O`Connor: I don't know what systemic racism means, but racism exists.
Kevin O`Connor: Racial justice: enforce the lawl problem isn't the police.
Richard Tisei: Voted NO on defining marriage as one man and one woman.
Richard Tisei: Opposed $200K reduction to blind job program.
Richard Tisei: Supported $900K for disability & mentoring aid.
Richard Tisei: Opposed "Turning 22" mental disability program.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Only a real Indian can defeat a fake Indian.
Shiva Ayyadurai: It's about free speech, not against Black Lives Matter.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Affirmative action hasn't helped most blacks.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Arizona data showed Biden win was statistically impossible.
John Deaton: Enshrine equal marriage in law.
John Deaton: Supports marriage equality.
Seth Moulton: Voted NO on banning transgender athletes as too extreme.
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Corporations
Allen Waters: Free enterprise with lower taxes is the key.
Beth Lindstrom: Cut corporate taxes.
Brian Herr: 29 years in the commercial construction business.
Elizabeth Warren: FactCheck: Insurers should pay victims, plus future immunity.
Elizabeth Warren: Proposes new federal limits for corporations.
Geoff Diehl: Get government off the back of small business.
Heidi Wellman: Accountability of current program funds.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: I see the games corporations play to rig the system.
Elizabeth Warren: I'm a Democrat capitalist, not a democratic socialist.
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Crime
Ed Markey: Ban "weapons of war" including tear gas from police use.
Elizabeth Warren: Criminal justice system is racist front to back.
Geoff Diehl: Recognize National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Heidi Wellman: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Karyn Polito: Opposed funding Mass Correctional Legal Services.
Kevin O`Connor: Horrified by Floyd murder, but do not defund police.
Richard Tisei: Opposed funding Mass Correctional Legal Services.
Seth Moulton: Law enforcement needs to go after domestic terrorists.
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Drugs
Allen Waters: Demand for drugs by whites is putting more blacks in jail.
Heidi Wellman: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug.
Joe Kennedy III: Concerns with marijuana legalization: take a deep breath.
John Kingston: Focus on opioid crisis instead of divisive rhetoric.
Elizabeth Warren: Rated A+ by NORML on marijuana reform.
John Deaton: Opioid addiction is directly related to Border crisis.
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Education
Geoff Diehl: Charter schools have more flexibility.
Heidi Wellman: Vouchers for school choice.
Karyn Polito: Opposed federal school breakfast supplement.
Richard Tisei: Opposed federal school breakfast supplement.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Educational-industrial complex not yielding skilled students.
Allen Waters: No free college; no government loans.
Allen Waters: More choice; more charter schools.
John Deaton: We need more opportunities for kids in failing schools.
Ed Markey: Administration wants to strip away public school funding.
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Energy & Oil
Bruce Skarin: Top priority: combatting global climate change.
Ed Markey: More offshore wind and solar--but no Green New Deal.
Ed Markey: Green New Deal has shifted the whole discussion.
Gabriel Gomez: I believe that there is global warming.
Geoff Diehl: Fought linking gas tax hikes to inflation.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose prioritizing green energy.
Kevin O`Connor: The Green New Deal will wreck U.S. economy.
Kevin O`Connor: Green New Deal would sell out American workers.
Mike Lee: I believe that there is global warming.
Scott Brown: Ease up on big oil companies to avoid high price of gasoline.
Scott Brown: I'm no friend of big oil; I'm a friend of the motorist.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: More offshore wind and solar--and Green New Deal.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Climate change cause irrelevant; focus on solutions.
John Deaton: Energy transition yes; but no Green New Deal.
Kevin O`Connor: Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through innovation.
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Environment
Ed Markey: Nuclear power is a very expensive way to boil water.
Geoff Diehl: Compromise on allowing fishing despite fraud in reporting.
Heidi Wellman: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach.
John Kingston: Oppose subsidies of uneconomic green technologies.
Kevin O`Connor: Need strong federal policy to protect clean air and water.
Richard Tisei: Supported cuts in Water Management Act enforcement.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: Nuclear power may be carbon free, but it is not risk free.
Shiva Ayyadurai: GMOs are destroying our health; establish safety standards.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Real problem is not climate change but pollution.
John Deaton: Represented people stricken by asbestos-related illnesses.
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Families & Children
Allen Waters: Believes in traditional American values.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Ok to believe that marriage is only one man and one woman.
Elizabeth Warren: I have spent my whole life fighting for working families.
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Foreign Policy
Allen Waters: Supports Israel and settler movement.
Elizabeth Warren: Led bipartisan opposition to China's election interference.
Heidi Wellman: American Exceptionalism is too vague.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Protect US sovereignty from the UN.
Elizabeth Warren: Republicans turned on Ukraine because Trump is still angry.
John Deaton: They've got money for Ukraine war, but can't feed the poor.
Kevin O`Connor: Failure to criticize China over COVID is weakness.
Ed Markey: COVID: Supported travel ban from China.
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Free Trade
Heidi Wellman: Support & expand free trade.
Kevin O`Connor: America first means robust free trade.
Richard Tisei: Voted YES on International Trade Council to promote exports.
John Deaton: Return American jobs lost to China with fair trade deals.
Ed Markey: Small businesses face crippling reality from Trump tariffs.
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Government Reform
Ben Downing: Allow online voter registration, early voting, vote by mail.
Beth Lindstrom: For Congressional term limits.
Brian Herr: Reduce non-military federal workforce by 15% via attrition.
Brian Herr: If we want new ideas, send new people, via term limits.
Brian Herr: If we want new ideas in Washington, we must send new people.
Bruce Skarin: Campaign finance reform to end pervasive corruption.
Deval Patrick: Allow online voter registration, early voting, vote by mail.
Ed Markey: Ok with outside PAC ads, if positive ads.
Geoff Diehl: More public access; more checks on state spending.
Geoff Diehl: Term limits for U. S. Senate; no career politicians.
Heidi Wellman: Term limits for US Congress.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose making voter registration easier.
Joe Kennedy III: Necessary regulations costs are crippling.
Joe Kennedy III: Proposed pledge to limit spending from outside groups.
Joe Kennedy III: Supports People's Pledge: no outside PAC spending.
John Kingston: Washington is broken: term limits for members of Congress.
Kevin O`Connor: Every vote must count; make ballots more accessible.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: Pledge to limit campaign spending from outside groups.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: Activist to register new voters.
Shiva Ayyadurai: We need term limits against lobbyists & career politician.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Pledges to serve one term, not focus on re-election.
Sonia Chang-Diaz: Allow online voter registration, early voting, vote by mail.
John Deaton: Regulation of crypto another example of government overreach.
John Deaton: Strong supporter of term limits .
John Deaton: Bottom line: government is the problem most of the time.
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Gun Control
Allen Waters: Opposes strengthening gun laws.
Brian Herr: People have a right to defend themselves and their property.
Elizabeth Warren: Extend the federal assault weapons ban.
Gabriel Gomez: Start with expanded background check tied to mental health.
Geoff Diehl: Unwavering support for gun rights.
Heidi Wellman: National gun license initiative.
Heidi Wellman: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Kevin O`Connor: Supports right to bear arms and background checks.
Mike Lee: Expanded background check first, not assault weapon ban.
Scott Brown: Extend the state assault weapons ban, but not federal.
Scott Brown: Reliably pro-gun, but opposed right-to-carry reciprocity.
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Health Care
Al Gross: Alaska has most expensive health care in the world.
Al Gross: Public option allows Alaska to compete on equal basis.
Beth Lindstrom: Bipartisan cooperation instead of socialized medicine.
Ed Markey: Expand online clinical trials registry.
Geoff Diehl: Reduce the number of healthcare mandates.
Elizabeth Warren: No privatizing Medicare, nor voucher program.
Elizabeth Warren: ObamaCare provides free preventive care for women.
Geoff Diehl: Opposes single-payer healthcare.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose ObamaCare.
Joe Kennedy III: ACA has done good things for people in need.
Kevin O`Connor: Competitive marketplace will reduce health care costs.
Kevin O`Connor: Against mask mandate; "all contact is not equal".
Richard Tisei: Opposed tax credits for all smoking regulation costs.
Richard Tisei: Supported $10M cut in the uncompensated care pool.
Richard Tisei: Voted YES on Constitutional call for universal health care.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Patients & doctors determine vaccinations, not government.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Real Health can only come when no middle-men are involved.
John Deaton: Don’t let ObamaCare tax credits sunset.
Kevin O`Connor: Repeal ACA only if pre-existing conditions still covered.
Ed Markey: COVID: Trump's response "criminally negligent".
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Homeland Security
Al Gross: Sullivan cut Alaska bases to support border wall.
Allen Waters: Congress needs to act on the shameful treatment of veterans.
Brian Herr: Hiring freeze for all non-military personnel.
Elizabeth Warren: Reduce size of standing army to reduce deficit.
Geoff Diehl: 10-point plan to improve veterans' health care & development.
Heidi Wellman: Expand the military.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Deliver services that our vets need and have been denied.
John Deaton: Expand Veterans Choice Program to outside the VA .
Ed Markey: Nuclear testing allows China to catch up with technology.
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Immigration
Beth Lindstrom: Against sanctuary cities.
Brian Herr: Create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Dan Sullivan: Shift military funding to build border wall.
Ed Markey: Would not trade protecting DACA for wall.
Ed Markey: Supports comprehensive immigration reform.
Elizabeth Warren: Strongly supports the DREAM Act.
Elizabeth Warren: Support the DREAM Act: Let kids stay.
Geoff Diehl: Build wall; fight illegal immigration.
Heidi Wellman: Refugees must be vetted for threats.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Joe Kennedy III: Kennedy promises to fight for DACA recipients.
Kevin O`Connor: Against sanctuary cities, enforce immigration laws.
Mike Lee: I will make the "gang of eight" into a "gang of nine".
Richard Tisei: Opposed two-way bilingual programs; supported English-only.
Scott Brown: DREAM Act provides "back door amnesty".
Shiva Ayyadurai: Path to citizenship for those here with clean records.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Borders need to be strong, laws need to be enforced.
Elizabeth Warren: We need a pathway to citizenship for people who are here.
John Deaton: Right to shelter makes MA Ground Zero in migrant crisis.
John Deaton: Expand legal immigration; against illegal immigration.
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Jobs
Ben Downing: No disclosure of salary history; equal pay for equal work.
Brian Herr: Member of the Repeal The Casino Deal Leadership Team.
Charlie Baker: No disclosure of salary history; equal pay for equal work.
Ed Markey: Lead petitioner on ballot question mandating sick time.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose affirmative action in hiring.
Richard Tisei: Voted NO on early retirement for MWRA-work-related cancer.
Scott Brown: Proud union member.
Shannon Liss-Riordan: Protect tipped workers' wages.
Sonia Chang-Diaz: No disclosure of salary history; equal pay for equal work.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Government has no responsibility to ensure livable income.
John Deaton: Regulations have driven commercial fishermen to bankruptcy.
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Principles & Values
Ed Markey: Legislating is about issues: look at my record.
Elizabeth Warren: I know I'm 1/32 Cherokee because my mother told me so.
Elizabeth Warren: My family is part Cherokee and I can't change who I am.
Elizabeth Warren: My father's family rejected my mother's Indian heritage.
Elizabeth Warren: My Indian heritage played no role in Harvard hiring.
Elizabeth Warren: DNA test shows Native American ancestry generations back.
Elizabeth Warren: Globe review: no use of Native American heritage in hiring.
Elizabeth Warren: We will stand up to bigotry against anyone.
Heidi Wellman: Keep God in the public sphere.
Joe Kennedy III: Co-sponsored Do No Harm Act: keep church and state separate.
Joe Kennedy III: Legislating is about which causes we care about first.
Kevin O`Connor: MA voters do not want Markey's socialism.
Kevin O`Connor: Promises to serve no more than two terms.
Mike Lee: Give me 17 months and I will achieve bipartisanship.
Scott Brown: Warren claims Native American; but you can see she is not.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Rational scientific approach for real solutions.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Born in India as an Untouchable.
Shiva Ayyadurai: I believe in divinity of Christ; and no Sharia.
John Deaton: I come from extreme poverty in a dangerous neighborhood.
Ed Markey: Everything I do is based on the Sermon on the Mount.
Seth Moulton: Democrats need to ask what they can do differently.
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Social Security
Ed Markey: Opposes privatizing, or any changes that reduce benefits.
Ed Markey: Oppose Bush's Social Security benefit cut.
Elizabeth Warren: No unnecessary cuts or risky privatization schemes.
Heidi Wellman: Don't privatize Social Security.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Higher paying jobs ensure future of Social Security.
John Deaton: Honor our commitments & replenish our national trust fund.
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Tax Reform
Brian Herr: Proposition 2-1/2 tax under-ride: reduce taxes by $1.2M.
Bruce Skarin: Decrease income tax; increase gas tax.
Elizabeth Warren: Stop protecting loopholes for millionaires.
Geoff Diehl: Voted against all tax increases.
Heidi Wellman: Oppose higher taxes on the wealthy.
Kevin O`Connor: Trump tax cuts led to greatest economy in last 40 years.
Richard Tisei: Voted YES on municipal meals tax, in addition to state tax.
Scott Brown: I'm not going to raise taxes on our job creators.
Scott Brown: Guilty as charged: I don't want to raise taxes.
Scott Brown: Never raise taxes in a recession; it hurts job creators.
Allen Waters: Advocate of FairTax system: pay taxes only on what you buy.
Elizabeth Warren: For every dollar invested we get $6-10 back from tax cheats.
John Deaton: We don't need 87,000 IRS agents for only 735 billionaires.
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Technology
Ed Markey: Expand program to get every child internet access.
Richard Tisei: Voted NO on emerging technologies, math & science Fund.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Make data from taxpayer funded research accessible.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Suspended from Twitter for challenging electronic ballots.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Just five major companies now control the digital airwaves.
John Deaton: Support Bitcoin; Warren introduced bill to ban it.
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War & Peace
Beth Lindstrom: Why is Sen. Warren dissing U.S. foreign policy in China?
Ed Markey: 2003 Iraq war vote was a mistake; 2013 Syria vote was not.
Ed Markey: No coherent strategy for exiting from Iraq.
Elizabeth Warren: Bring US troops home from Afghanistan before 2014.
Elizabeth Warren: Take nothing off the table with Iran's nuclear weapon.
Heidi Wellman: They're not merely "foreign entanglements".
Joe Kennedy III: Opposed 2003 Iraq war; opposed 2013 Syria war.
Scott Brown: No nuance with Iran: no nuclear weapons.
Scott Brown: Rely on guidance from generals about Afghanistan withdrawal.
Shiva Ayyadurai: Expose the war in Iraq as a fake war.
John Deaton: Israel has the absolute right to defend itself .
John Deaton: Only finance Ukraine with metrics for tactical independence.
Ed Markey: Keep ABM Treaty; abandon Golden Dome.
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Welfare & Poverty
Richard Tisei: Voted NO on allowing parents on welfare to attend school.
Elizabeth Warren: Government should partner up to build more housing.
John Deaton: Oppose decades-old right-to-shelter law.
John Deaton: Authored "Food Stamp Warrior", a memoir.
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